Wire fence



(No Model.)

B. s, SCOFI'ELD & J. J. JENNINGS;

WIRE FENCE.

No. 530,244. Patented Dec. 4, 1894.-

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l- EDWVARD S. SCOFIELD AND JOHN J. JENNINGS, OF .RIDGEW'AY, NEI/V YORK.

WIRE FENCE.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,244, dated. December 4 I894.

\ Application filed November 25, 1893. Serial No. 491,981. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD S. SCOFIELD and JOHN J. JENNINGS, citizens of the United States, residing at Ridgeway, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Fences; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to improvements in wire fences, such as generally used for farm and stock purposes, and it has-for its prime objectto provide at a comparatively small expense, a stay for the runners, which will efiectively protect them from sagging or lateral strain.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for connecting the runners and stay wires so as to prevent any slipping movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a base or shoe for supporting the stays which will in turn support the runners and consequently the entire fence from sinking or sagging.

, Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a face view of a part of afence embodying our improvements and illustrating the base plate or shoe in section. Fig. 2, is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the same. Fig. 3, is a perspective, enlarged detail view, with parts broken away, and Fig. 4, is a plan view of the shoe for supporting the stays.

Referring by letter to said drawings: A, indicates a fence post, and B, the runners of a wire fence, which may be of any ordinary or approved construction.

0, indicates the main wire of the stays. These wires are formed from stout material and of a sufficient length, being straight, as will presently appear. Upon these straight, vertical wires 0, we provide loops for the reception of the runners, and these loops a, which are of a general staple form, are designed to be placed on the main wire. The wire D, which we call the binding wire, may be of a lighter weight than the main wire.

length, where we wrap the wire again around the main wire in a manner similar to that first described, and continue such operation until a sufficient number of loops or eyes a, have been formed, when we terminate the wire D,

by wrapping it at the end of the main wire or stay 0. By forming these eyes or loops at regular intervals, the stays may be spooled or rolled such asthe ordinary fence wire andin use, they can be cut in suitable lengths so as to bring the eyes or loops in the proper relative positions to receive the runners. After placing the stays on the runner wires, said stays may be let into the ground at theirlower ends, or rest upon the ground, so as to support the wires and consequently the fence and this manner of arrangement may be found sufficient in many cases, but to permanently sustain the runners, and preserve the original shape of the fence, we have found it desirable under certain conditions of the earth to place a shoe at the lower ends of the stays.

In Fig. 4, of the drawings, we have illustrated a shoe of a very cheap and simple construction which comprises a plate F, of iron, or other suitable material. This plate which is here shown as of rectangular form in outline, is slitted longitudinally and parallel as shown at e, and then transversely in the middle so as to form two lips or branches f, which are perforated at g, and turned upwardly as shown to receive between them the lower ends of the stays which may be let into the ground for a distance as shown. After the lower ends of the stays have been passed through the slot or aperture in the shoes so as to bring one of the loops or eyes to register with the apertures g, a pin or key G, is inserted through said apertures and loops so as to prevent the stays from further settling or from lifting out of the earth.

In order to prevent the staysfrom lateral movement, longitudinally upon the runners,

we provide a second binding wire. This wire which may be of about the same gage or weight as the wire D, may straddle the stay bypassing through the eye or loop, or upon the outside of said eye or loop, as shown at h, and its opposite ends are wrapped around the upper runner, as shown at i, and It.

By this construction it will be seen that the stays will be held truly vertical or in the position which they were first set and the binding wires which straddle the stays will prevent them from longitudinal or lateral play, while the shoes will rest and support the fence from sagging, and by reason of the branches (1, it will be seen that the eyes or loops will be stiffened or held in proper position from movement upon the main Wire.

Having described our invention, what we claim is 1. The herein described stay for wire fences, comprising the main straight wire 0, the binder wire wrapped upon the main wire and having loops or eyes at intervals in its length to receive the runners of a fence, and a shoe adaptedto bear upon the ground and having a pin in engagement with the lower eye of the stay; the said shoe being adapted to prevent downward movement of the stay and a conse-- quent sagging of the runners of a fence, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a wire fence, the combination with a series of horizontal runners or line wires; of a stay comprising a vertical stout and straight main wire 0, and the binder wire supported at its lower end and wrapped around the main wire at points above and below the runners or line wires so as to form loops a, adapted to receive and hold said runners or line wires, and having the straight portions d, between the coilsor wraps forming the loops at; whereby all of the horizontal runners or wires will be supported and prevented from moving toward the ground or toward each other, substantially as specified.

3. The hereindescribed stay for wire fences comprising the stout and straight main wire 0, and the binder wire wrapped upon said wire 0, so as to form loops or eyes a, at intervals in the length thereof, the shoe F, formed from asingle piece of metal and having the struck up branches f, provided with aligned apertures, and a bolt extending through said apertures and the lowermost loop or eye a, of the binder wire, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we atfix our signal it res in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD S. SCOFIELD. JOHN J. JENNINGS. Witnesses:

GEO. W. FRARY, FRANK E. COL-BURN. 

